XOMA investigating third indication for gevokizumab

XOMA Corp. announced it has selected active noninfectious anterior scleritis as the third indication in XOMA's gevokizumab proof-of-concept program, according to a company press release.

Gevokizumab is a potent monoclonal antibody that binds strongly to interleukin-1 beta, a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been shown to be involved in noninfectious uveitis, including Behcet's uveitis, cardiovascular disease and other auto-inflammatory diseases. By binding to interleukin-1 beta, gevokizumab inhibits the activation of the interleukin-1 receptor, thereby modulating the cellular signaling events that produce inflammation, the release said.

"Both noninfectious scleritis and noninfectious uveitis have been associated with interleukin-1 beta. As we narrowed our potential therapeutic targets for inclusion in our proof-of-concept program, we felt there was a strong rationale to conduct one of the studies in a second ocular indication," Paul Rubin, senior vice president of research and development and chief medical officer of XOMA, said in the release.

XOMA is working with the National Eye Institute on designing the protocol for this study, the release said.